Ambroxol hydrochloride: complete guide to using the drug
Ambroxol is an active ingredient with a mucolytic action like acetylcysteine but its mechanism of action is different.
Ambroxol hydrochloride is used in all those pathologies involving breathing difficulties resulting from obstruction caused by the accumulation of viscous mucous secretions which are located in the lower respiratory tract.
This active ingredient is the result of the metabolization of bromhexine which has the function of reducing the viscosity of mucous secretions by fragmenting the long mucopolysaccharide chains of which the mucus is made.
If these chains become shorter they trap greater quantities of water making the mucus more fluid which can be easily eliminated thanks to the cough which represents the physiological mechanism by which our body gets rid of the mucus.
Ambroxol is the active principle of preparations such as Mucosolvan® and Fluibron® but it also exists as a generic drug produced by various pharmaceutical companies such as:
- Ambroxolo EG;
- Ambroxolo Hexal ,
- Ambroxolo Ratiopharm,
- Ambroxolo Mylan.
We can find this active ingredient in pharmacies in various formulations based on the need for which you have to take it. You can find:
- the syrup ;
- the solution to be sprayed ,
- extended release capsules ,
- chewy pills ,
- the tablets ;
- suppositories for children .
Indications, dosage and side effects of ambroxol
Ambroxol is an active principle with a mucolytic action which is exploited in all those situations in which there is a need to fluidify the phlegm and then favor its expulsion through coughing.
This active ingredient is used in the treatment of respiratory disorders caused by the obstruction of the respiratory tract caused both by the increase in bronchial mucous secretion and by the thickening of the mucus itself.
Treatment with ambroxol is indicated both in acute bronchopulmonary diseases ( cold , bronchi and fatty cough) and in chronic ones. The drug is contraindicated in children under two years of age and in case of hypersensitivity to one or more excipients present in the formulation.
All mucolytics can cause airway obstruction in very young children. In fact, their ability to drain the fluidified bronchial mucus is very limited as children are not able to expectorate easily as an adult does, also due to the anatomy of their respiratory tracts.
Ambroxol should be administered with caution to those suffering from gastric ulcers and if you suffer from renal insufficiency it is advisable to consult your trusted doctor before taking ambroxol hydrochloride .
The simultaneous intake of other drugs such as amoxicillin, cefuroxime and erythromycin increases their presence in bronchial secretions if administered with ambroxol ; the same goes for saliva.
Can ambroxol be used during pregnancy and lactation ? Ambroxol is capable of crossing the placenta and therefore interfering with normal fetal development, it can interfere with delivery and with the post-natal development of the child.
Therefore, its use is not recommended during the entire first trimester of pregnancy, while its use is considered safe enough starting from the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy. Ambroxol is excreted in breast milk and therefore can pass to the baby at each feeding, therefore it is advisable not to use it if you are breastfeeding.
What are the side effects of ambroxol?
In very few and very rare cases cases of severe skin lesions (Stevens Johnson Syndrome) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (NET) have occurred following the administration of ambroxol. Most common side effects are: taste disturbance, nausea, vomiting, numbness in the throat, tongue and mouth.
How to take ambroxol?
Tablets : one tablet of ambroxol 30 mg 3 times a day for adults to be reduced to 2 tablets a day 8-10 days after the start of treatment.
Suppositories : 1 suppository of 30 mg of ambroxol in children over the age of two years and body weight greater than 15 kg 1-2 times a day.
Syrup (15mg/mL): 10 mL 3 times a day for adults, 3 mL four times a day in children over 5 years of age, 3 mL 3 times a day in children aged between two and 5 years. In children it is necessary to scrupulously follow the doctor’s instructions, while for adults it is always good to listen to the doctor’s opinion before taking it.
She defines herself as curious by nature. In 2006 she graduated with honors in Biotechnology at the Sapienza University of Rome. Between 2005 and 2009, she carried out a university internship and research activity in the field of tumor immunotherapy. She is a co-author of three scientific publications. Since 2007 you have associated your passion for science with that for the web, starting the management of the FitnessEquilibrium.com project.